On the Mammals collected in the Desert of Central Arabia by Major A. C. Hinton

CA& 518 Messrs. R. E. Olieesman and M. A. 0. Hinton on LXII. — On ihe Mammals collected in Arabia by Major R. E. Chees»ian. and MAKTIN A. G. UINTON. the Desert of Central I3y R. E. CHE15SAIAN (Published by permission of the Trustees of the Britbh Museum.) TlIE colleclion of mammals described in this paper was made by Major E. E. Cheesman in the Hasa Province and in tin: Jafura and Jabrin Deserts which form part of the Great South Desert of Arabia. The expedition was arranged by Sir Percy Cox, and was undertaken in response to an invitation from II.FI. the Stillan of JSTejd, with the object of investigating the desert-fauna of Central Arabia., which, owing to the inaccessibility of the country and the fanaticism of its inhabitants, was unknown. As might be expected in a district so widely different from the surrounding areas, many forms have proved to be new. Generally speaking, the exceptionally pale desert-coloration is the most striking feature" of the collection as a whole, and to match it to some degree one has to proceed far to the west, where, in the Air district of the Central Sahara, Capt. Angu* Euchanan found some little time ago an extraordinarily pah: assemblage of mammals. It is of interest, perhaps, lo noto that certain inferences as. to the special habits of some of the numerous and competitive species of Meriones and Jaciiliis, found living together in close local association, derived independently from a study of the skull-structure, find confirmation in and in turn confirm the observations made in tho field to a remarkable degree. There is reason to suppose that the list given below would apply to the whole of the Great South Desert, there being, so far as is known, no physical barrier unlil the confines of tho mountains, such as Aden and Yemen to the south and Muscat to the east, are reached, where markedly darker forms are known to replace the desert fauna. The entire absence of ihe'mungoose, so plentiful in Iraq, and the replacement of the big dark Iraq hare by the small pale desert-coloured hare, give definite evidence as to the limits of range of each of the species concerned. The types of all the new forms have been presented to tl.e British Museum by Major R. E. Cheesrnan. 1. Asellia tridens^Geofic. Ilufuf. J1. 5061, 5077, forearm 50, 51 mm. ; ? forearm 49 rmn. 5076, Mammals from the Desert of Central Arabia. 549 Tln'se specimens were collected in December and are all in tho pale fawn pelage ; in size they agree with the typical subspecies from Egypt, and for the present, at all events, must bo referred to A. t. Iridens. 2. ripistrellus kuhli i/c/iwanius, subsp. n. Ifufuf Town. <?. 5062, 50G9; ?. 5067, 5068, 5078, 5148. Distinguished amongst the subspecies of P. kuJiU and from nil other members of the go HUP, with the exception of P. co.i'i (which is white), by its extremely pale colour. Essential characters as in the typical subspecies. Size rather small (forearm 33-34, condylo-incisive length o£ skull 12-3 mm.). General colour above light buff, darkened by the partly visible dark grey hair-bases. Underparts white. Membranes pallid, Interfemoral membrane densely clothed with short light buff hair above between the thighs and the base of the tail. Margins of wing-membranes whitish as usual. Dimensions of type (measured in the flesh) :— Head and body 43 mm. ; tail 33 ; hind foot 7; ear 10. Skull: conclylo-incisivo length 12'3 ; zygomalic breadth 8'2 ; interorhital constriction 3'5 ; lachrymal breadth 5 ', breadth of brain-case (}'2 ; mastoid width 7'4; depth of brain-case in middle 4'5 ; upper tooth-row (c-in3) 4'G. Type. Adult male. 13. M. no. 24. 8. 2. 1. Original number 5069. Collected by Major II. E. Checsmau at Ifufiif Town on December 7th, l'J23. IIal>. llufuf, Hasn, Central Arabia. Among the material nsod for comparison were two specimens obtained at Jjahrain and three from Fao, which form part of the (Jox-Checsman collection, and are referable to P. k. lepidiis, a pah: and somewhat larger subspecies. The ilufiif 1'ipistrelles are, however, very conspicuously paler, both as regards their fur and their membrane.0, than is any other form of F. kuhli. o. Oloni/cteris ji/i, sp. n. Hufuf. c?. 5066, 5072, 5073, 5074, 5075. Distinguished from the other known members of tho genus by its larger size, larger and denser fur, pallid colour, and more inflated auditory bullio. Size largo (forearm G4-(>6 mm. ; condylo-ineisivc length of skull 22'4-23; upper toolh-row 8'5-8'8 ; -frheco-wespondiiig 550 Messrs. R. E. Chee.sman and 51. A. C. Hintoh on ranges in the other known species are—58-61, 20'9-22'3, 7-8-8-2). Fur longer and much denser than in the other species ; hairs of back about 10 mm. long. General colour of tipper parts near the " pallid purple-drub " of Ridgway, lightened by the partly visible white basal portions of the hairs. Underpaid pure white. Membranes and ears very pale. Skull distinguished from skiilta of 0. hempricM and 0. petersi by i(3 slightly larger .size, heavier build, more inflated auditory hulls, and larger teeth. Dimensions of the type (measured in the flesh) :— Head and body 73 mm.; tail 57; hind foot 11 ; ear 40. Skull-measurements : condylo-ineisive length 22'9 ; zygomatic breadth 15'1; postorbital constriction 4'1 ; interorbitnl breadth 7'1 ; width of brain-case 11 ; width of occiput 11'7 ; median height of occiput f< ; upper tooth-row (c-m3) S'5. Type. Adult male. 13.M. no. 24. 8. 2. 2. Original number 5073. Collected at Ilufuf Town, Ilasa, Arabia, on December 10, 1923, by Major 11. E. Clieesman. Altitude 200 feet. Hub. Hufnf, Hasa, Arabia. Bats of this genus are extremely rare, and the five now received from Hu'fuf almost double its representation in the National Collection. They were met with only in Ilufuf Town, and were there very uncommon. 4. ? ParcecJiimts dorsalis. South Hasa : imperfect skin of a hedgehog, eaten by a, fox. Judging from what is left of this specimen, the skin belonged to a. species of Parcvchimis} probably related to P. dorsalis of the lladramout. Major Cheesmnn saw tlio tracks of a hedgehog in the bushy sand-dunes o£ the Jafura desert, but did not find a specimen. 5. Uycena kycena, Linn. Footmarks of hysenas, probably of this species, were seen as far south as Jabrin, where tliey were apparently plentiful, although no specimen was obtained. What they can find lo live on when the tribes move away with their camels is a mystery. 6. Canis pallipes, Sykes. Not uncommon at Hufuf and Jnbrin, but only footmarks were seen. One came at night at Wadi Sahba, and stole a Mammals from the Desert of Central Arabia. 551 wnler-skiii from flic camp. The tracks showed that the wolf had come within a few inches of the sleeping inmates of: the camp. A specimen, obtained by La Personne in the Persian Gulf, in the Cox-Clieesmau collection, is now alive in the London Zoological Gardens. Its coat is remarkable for its pale grey coloration. 7. Mellivora sp. One rntel was surprised at close quarters, and unsuccessfully pursued in the trough of sand-dunes in the Jafura Desert. 8. Gerlillus arduus, sp. n. Jabal Dhnrabin, Jafura Desert. Zarunqa, Hasa. Most nearly related to G. cheesmani, but with relatively longer hind foot, slightly paler colour, and whiler tail. General colour of upper parts dull sandy bull', lacking t.ho warmer ochraceous tint seen in G. cheesmani. Underparts, together with hands and feet, pure white. Tail with its upper surface very faintly suffused with creainbuffin ils basal two-thirds ; elsewhere while. Skull and teeth essentially as in cheesma)u} but the nicsopterygoid f'ossce shorter and broader, and the auditory bullaB (particularly their mnstoid portions) a lillle more inflated. Dimensions of type (measured in the (lesh) :— Head and body 8G mm. ; tail 124; hind foot 29; ear 12. Skull : greatest median length 28'5 ; greatest diagonal length 29'2 : condylo-ineisive length 24'S ; zygomalic breadth 15; interorbilal breadth 5'3 ; breadth of brain-case 13'5 ; bimcatal breadtli ]5'3; nasals 10'4 ; palatal foramina 4'i ; bullse, longest diagonal 12'1, breadth :it right angles to last (exclusive of meatal projection) 59 ; upper molars 3'5 (on ' crowns), 3'8 (alveoli). Type. Adult male. J3.M. no. 24. 8, 2. 3. Original number 51(i2. Collected by Major 11. K. Ohee.sman ill Jabal Dharabin, Jafura, on February i4, 1924. Altitude 200 feet. .Hub. Jafura Desert, Central Arabia. This beautiful little animal is strictly nocturnal. Closely related to G. cheesmani described from Iraq, it may later be shown to intergrade with the latter to the north-cast; but ils differences, the result oE a more inlense specialization for life in the desert, entitles it to be treated, for the present at all events, as a distinct species. 552 Messrs. R. E. Cheesman and M. A. 0. Hinton on 9. Dijaoitilltis.danyurus, Wagner. Delaqiya, Hasa. ? . 5228. MERIONES. This gonns is represented by four very distinct form.", distinguished from each oilier by characters of skull and pelage, which appear to be closely correlated in each case with special liabils and the peculiar environment. Thomas* has already shown that "a single district may contain two or three species, all looking so alike as to be readily contused with each other, and yet readily distinguishable on close examination," and that the differences in the structure and development of the auditory bullre afford the primary means of distinction, and enable us to separate the species into four groups. The present collection confirms these views of Thomas, while the field observations suggest an explanation. The first species described below as M. ismaJiells is a member of Thomas's a group closely related to M. crassus of Sinai. In it the bullje are enormously developed, the coat very dense and long, and the colour very pale. It is confined to the sand-dunes desert, and is a strictly nocturnal animal. In this it agrees with M. crassus ; for Hedenborg, who collected the original specimen of the latter species in iSinai, described it as " Nocturnus, prtedatur ante liicem"t- 'i'ho extravagantly developed bnllse appear to indicate, therefore, that in the darkness the animal has to rely chiefly upon its sense of hearing for protection from its enemies ; while i(s unusually heavy coat is no doubt Ip be correlated with the low iright temperature of the desert. M. arimaliiiSj the second species described below, is also related to the members of the a group, its closesl affinities being apparently with j)/". peleriniis described from N.W. Arabia. This species inhabits the true desert, but is diurnal, scampering about on the hot sand and feeding at all times except during the holies! hours about noon. In it the bullfe are considerably less developed, suggesting that boll) sight and hearing are relied upon for defence. The coat is very thin and short, sufficient to protect its wearer from the sun, but not developed as a special defence against the night cold. The exceptionally pallid colour would seem also to be directly correlated with (he diurnal habits. The remaining two forms, treated as subspecies of M. syrius, * Thomas, Ann. & Mag. Nat, Hist. ser. 9, vol. iii. p. 203 (1919). t fciuiideviill, Kongl. Vetenskaps, Akad. Hnndl. 1842, p. 233. I Mammals from the Desert of Central Arabia,. 553 are much less specialized. They are not inhabitants of the true desert;, but are found along the borders of the cultivated fields at Hul'uf, where lucerne is grown, and upon this plant they feed. At Ilufuf there are two rivulets—one fed by the Khorasan spring, the other by thelvhurdud spring,—and it is upon the banks of these rivulets that the lucerne is grown. Between the streams there is a bare limestone plateau about a mile wide, unfcenaiited and uninhabitable by Meriones. It is of interest to find that each rivulet has its own peculiar form of M. ssi/rius, the limestone plateau between being apparently an impassable barrier. One of the forms—M, .?. editfiai—has the richer colouring of true syrius combined with a much stronger skull and unusually robust body ; the other —M. s. evelyme—has the skull and body-proportions of st/rius combined with a pallid dorsal coloration. 10. Meriones ismahelis, sp. n. Ilufuf Oasis. $ . 5120, 5121 ; ? . 5103, 5104, 5116. Jabrin Oasis. $ . 5174. A very pallid member of the crassus group, distinguished from M. crassus by its smaller size, finer coat, and paler colour. Size medium (hind foot about 31 mm. ; condylo-basal length of skull up to 36 mm. in adult rf). Tail us in the other members of the group, short, about equal to head and body measurement. Fur very fine, dense, and long; hairs on rump about 20 mm. in length. Colour of upper parts near " light buff" of liidgway ; underparts, together with the hands and feet, pure white. Upper surface of tail light buff like the back, not "cinnamon-buff" as in most other species of Meriones. Naked portions of soles light flesh-colour, instead of beingblack as in the syrius group. Skull similar to that of M. crassus in general form, but slightly smaller. Auditory bullte very large, with the mastoid, supra-tympanic, and premeatal portions greatly inflated, as in the related species. Dimensions of lype (measured in the flesh) :— Head and body 124mm.; tail 124; hind foot (without claws) 31 ; ear 17. JTor skull-measurements see table at p. 558. Type. Adult male. 13.M. no. 24. 8. 2. 4. Original number 5121. Collected by Major 11. E. Cheestnau at Hul'uf Oasis on January 7, 1924. Hob. as above. il Messrs. E. E. Olieesmnn and M. A. 0. Ilinton on back near "cream-buff" flanks to " ivory-yellow." hands and feet, pure white 11. Meriones artmalius, sp. n. Jabrin. cj. 5194; ?. 5195. Jabal Agoula, Jabrin. <?. 5205; ? . 5201, 5206. Most liko M. pelerinus in skull, but outwardly distinguished by its pallid colour, short thin fur, and much longer white-tufted tail. Size large (hind foot 37 mm., median length of skull 3S'3), the hind foot and tail much longer than in AI.pelerinus • tail considerably longer than, instead of being ahout equal to, the length of head and body. Fur short and closely adpressed; hair on rump about 10 mm. in length. General colour paler than in any other known member of the genus. Crown of head and centre of of Ridgway, fading on cheeks and Underparts, together with the the hairs of the ventral surfaco white throughout. Tail, including its tuft, "ivory-yellow" throughout, with a few scarcely perceptible grey hairs in the tuft. Skull like that of M. pelerinus, but with the auditory bullro somewhat less developed. In eacli bulla the mastoid portion is less swollen and terminates posteriorly but little behind the occipital plane; supratympanic arid premeatal swellings a little less marked. Dimensions of type (measured in flesh) :— Head and body 132 mm.; tail 16i5 ; hind foot 37; ear 18. For skull-measurements see table at p. 558. Type. Adult male. B.M. no. 24. 8. 2. 5. Original number 5194. Collected by Major R. E. Cheesman at Jabrin on February 22, 1924. Hob. as above. This interesting species, the palest by many shades of all known jird.«, is essentially an inhabitant of the sand-dunes of the Great Soulh Desert of Arabia, and it was not found norlh of Jabrin. Its long, pale cream-coloured tail, lacking all trace of the cinnamon tint and black fringe so generally found in Meriones, sharply distinguishes it from all related species. This jird feeds exclusively on the bush (Arthrocnemon frulicosum) called "Gadha" by the Arabs, and its earths were only found on the gadha-covered dunes of soft white sand. It is a diurnal species, feeding throughout the day with the exception of the hottest hours about noon ; and the small, r development of the auditory bullee, as compared with those of jl/. pelerinus, is no doubt correlated with the daylight activities of the animal. * til '1 Mammals from the Desert of Central Arabia. 555 12. Meriones syrius editJia;, subsp. n. Klnulud Spring, Ilufuf, <?. 5129, 5132; $ . 5131. A powerfully built subspecies, distinguished from the typical form by its longer and redder tail and heavior skull. Fur sleek, moderately long; hair over, rump about 14 mm. in length. Colour of: upper parts wanner and richer than in M. s. evelynce, near the " pinkish cinnamon " of Ridgway upon the crown of (be head and back. Underparts pure white, the bases of the white hairs grey. Hands and feet white, washed with cream-buff above ; naked parts of soles black. Tail " ochraccous salmon "; with terminal pencil of long black hairs. Skull more massively built than in typical syrius, with stronger supraorbilal beads and longer palatal foramina. Dorsal edge of mnsseteric plate thrown somewhat further forwards. BullfE slightly more inflated. Dimensions of type (measured in the fl"sh) :— Head and body 143 mm. ; tail 181; hind foot 37 ; ear 13. For skull-measurements see table at p. 558, Type. Adult male. 13.M. no. 21. 8. 2. 6. Original number 5129. Collected by Major R. E. Cheesman at Khudud Spring, llufuf, January 10, 1924. JJab. as above. 13. Meriones syrius cvelynce, subsp. n. Khorasan Spring, Hufuf. '<$. 5047, 5050, 5053, 5059 ; ? . 5051, 5052. An exceptionally pallid subspecies, with the tail much less rufous than usual. Fur sleek. General colour of upper parts pale ocliraceous buff; under parts pure white, the bases of the white hairs grey. Hands and feet white, inconspicuously blotched with pale ochraceous buff above; naked parts of soles black. Tail pale ochraceous buff above and below down to the commencement of the black dorsal fringe and terminal pencil. Skull smaller than that of M. s. syrius, but essentially similar in general form and structure. Auditory bulk.e relatively larger and more globoscly inflated. Dimension-) of type (measured in the flesh) :— Head and body 144 mm. ; (ail 156; hind foot 34; ear 18. For skull-measurements see table at p. 55.8. Type. Adult male. 13.M. no. 24. 8. 2. 7. Original number 5050. Collected by Major R. E. Cheesman at Khorasan Spring, Hufuf, Hasn, Arabia, on November 28, 1923. Hob. as above. 556 Messrs. E. E. Cheesman and M. A. C. Hinton on 14. Mus musculus gentilis, Brants. Ilufiif Gardens. ?. 5125. Not very plentiful, and more often seen in the gardens than in the town. 15. Nesokia litxtoni, Thos. Oqair, Hasa. £. 5012. 16. Rattus raltus, Li mm. Hufnf Gardens. ^.5126,5127. These have brown backs and white bellies, and represent the wild original form of the "black rat." Major Cheesman did not seo one in the town. At. Tlitfuf it w.as a garden animal, living in burrows near the running streams and making slick-and-leaf nests in the trees. 17. Jaculusflorentice, sp. n. Jabal Aqula, Jabrin. ? . 5207. Jfxfura Desert. ? . 5123. Distinguished from all its geographical allies by its large size, long tail, and paler colour. Size large (hind foot 55-60 mm.), nearly as in J. syrinx. General colour very pale. Top of head and back near " pale pinkish buff " of Ridgway. On the rump some of the hairs have dark tips, which form peculiar shade-markings in tho general pattern and are continued over the flanks to the white sides. Underparts, together with hands and feet, pure white. Toes heavily booted with long, stiff, white hairs, as usual. Tail pale, pinkish buff above, white below up to llie tuft, which is long and white; there is a small palch of " vinaceons slate" where the buff and white meet. Skull and teeth nearly as in J. syrius. Dimensions of the type (measured in the flesh) :— Head and body 114 mm. ; tail 176; hind foot 55 ; ear 22. Skull: greatest median length 31'9 ; greatest diagonal length to back of auditory bullse 34'5 ; greatest breadih across face 21'8 ;'interorbital breadth 11; bimeatal breadih 22-6; interorbital foramina, height 6'7 ; breadth across the two foramina 15 ; upper molar series (crowns) 4'9.